I love to cook and teach vegan cooking. In March 2006, I was inspired by cooking blogs like Vegan Lunchbox to post my dinner plate pictures.
I do my family's cooking. Since I met my wife in June 2004, I'm proud that I've not repeated a dinner for her; we weren't together every night, but since fall 2005, we've shared most dinners. I think I can keep up the unique creations through spring 2006 - maybe beyond! (Still going in March'08!)

Tuesday, January 01, 2013

New Year's Day Hoppin' John

Happy New Year! I hope that 2013 proves to be a much better year than 2012. I lost my Mom in January 2012, and just a few weeks ago there was the unimaginable Connecticut school situation in the town next to where I grew up.

A few days ago when I was shopping at Whole Foods, my friend Michelle, who does food demonstrations, had samples of a vegan "Hoppin' John", a traditional New Year's Day dish served in the South. Here is the recipe that she used to serve 4-6:

Ingredients

2c dried black-eyed peas, rinsed

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

1t dried thyme

1c uncooked long grain rice

2 strips tempeh "bacon", chopped

1 medium green bell pepper, chopped

pinch of cayenne pepper

1/4 t salt

ground black pepper to taste

(optional) hot sauce

Recipe

Rinse then soak black-eyed peas for six hours or overnight; discard peas that float

Drain peas, rinse, and put in a large stock pot with six cups of fresh water, the onion, and the thyme; bring to a boil

Cover and simmer on low-medium heat till the black-eyed peas are tender but still whole (I found that 20-25 minutes was enough, but the recipe suggests 45 minutes may be needed)

Season with hot sauce, if desired (I did in individual servings at the table - goes very well with the dish), and serve in bowls

I followed the recipe, using half quantities for my wife, daughter, and Dad (who is visiting us for a few weeks). Instead of tempeh bacon, I used about a fifth of a block of regular tempeh with flaxseed; I first sauteed it, but really didn't need to and shouldn't have so that this would be a no-added-fat dinner. I also added about 5 kale leaves, roughly hand chopped, and a small chopped carrot. It was delicious!